Hydraulic packing washer



v A. PROCTER 2,387,182

HYDRAULIC PACKING WASHER Filed Jan. 11, 1944 Hum! !\\\\\\\P a r y recess;

ass-1,1153 7 HYDRAULIC meme WASHER I Anthony Procter, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,

England Application January ii, 1944, Serial No. 517,785 InGreat Britain December 28, 1942 sclal a' (01.2864) This inventionrelates to hydraulic packing washers, usually of u cross section. presenting sealing lipsmore or less oppositely pressed by I the fluid pressure respectively each against a difierent one of a pair of relatively rotating machine parts, one of which usually is stationary and wherein the packing washer is, mounted in a Hitherto packing. washers of the above kind are held stationary relatively to one of the relatively rotating machine parts, normally the stationary machine part, so that abrasion due to rubbing contact is concentrated solely upon the sealing lip which bears against the other rela-' tively rotating machine part, normally the rotating machine part. i

The object of the present invention is to distribute the wear on both sealing lips of hydraulic packing washers having more or less oppositely fluid pressed sealing lips bearing respectively each against a different one of a pair of relatively rotating machine parts, and thus, in reducing the wear on one sealing lip, to increase the useful life of the entire washen' To the above end, according to the inven-, tion, a hydraulic packing washen usually of U cross section, having a pair of sealing lips located to be oppositely laterally pressed by fluid pressure, is rotatable relatively to a support whereon it can be mounted between two relatively rotating machine parts.

The support relatively to which the packingwasher is rotatable may be one member of a' washer is applied to one race of the bearing, which conveniently is a ball'bear-ing, as such bearings are conveniently narrow, and the other race of the bearing is mounted in the recess in the respective, usually stationary,- machine part. In order that the rotary race of the ball bearing and the base of the U washer shall not rubagalnst the wall of the recess, or against the moving machine part, the surface of the stationary race directed towards the wall of the recess or towards the moving machine part, such as a shaft, prm jects slightly, or a suitable thin distance piece is interposed against the wall or shaft.

Representative examples of rotatably mounted U washers are illustrated on the accompanying drawing, in which:

. Fig. 1 is a half axial section through a shaft bearing assembly, showing an axially directed U washer rotatably' mounted on a ball bearing, in the housing of the shaft bearing.

- Fig. 2 is a half axial section of a modified construction of an axially directed U washer mounted on a ball bearing.

Fig. 3 is a half axial section of a radially outwardly directed U washer mounted on a ball bearing. v

Fig. dis a half axial section of a radially inwardly directed U washer mounted on a roller bearing.

Referring to Fig. 1, a is a shaft rotatably mounted, on a roller bearing b, in a bearing aperture 0 of a housing 0.

d is a U washer bf rubber, usually oil-resistant synthetic rubber, having sealing lips axially directed towards a space e, assumed to contain a fluid underpressure. The base of the U washer d is applied against, and may be cemented, vulcanised or otherwise secured to, one race memher I of a ball thrust bearing, the other race sleeves, would be diflicult, the bearing preferably is a ball or roller anti-friction bearing.- The member I" of which bears against a collar a ofthe shaft a, under the effect of the fluid pressure in the space e., Y The inner and outer diameters of the ball bear ing rac member j fare such that when the ball bearing is mounted concentrically with the shaft a, such member f .is clear of contact both with the shaft a and with the wall of the aperture c of'the housing 0, as is likewise the base of the U washer d. This is ensured by the inner diameter of the other ball bearing racemember 1* being smaller than that of the member 1 so that the member I projects radially inwardly beyond the member f Thus although the member f rotates with and therefore at the same speed as the shaft a, the member I and the U washer d are free to float'and rotate at a lesser speed. Wear will therefore be distributed-between both lips of the U washer. d as both will rotate relatively to the} shaft a and wall of the aperture 0 respectively:

g is a metal washer with an axially directed flange which serves to prevent the U washer d coming out of its place in the aperture 0 when fluid pressure is relaxed in the space 6. Apertures g are provided in the axially directed flange of the retainingwasher g, to allow fluid pressure to act equally on both lips of the U washer d.

h is an oil seal of ordinary construction to retain oil in, and prevent the entry of dirt into, 'the main bearing b.

Instead of the ball bearing race member 1! projecting inwardly beyond the ball bearing race member I, both may have the same diameters as shown in Fig. 2. In such case a liner may be interposed between the member I and, as a sleeve on. the shaft 0, to space the member I and the base of the U washer d concentrically clear of the shaft a.

Pig. 2 also shows the U washer d keyed to the ball bearing race member I by a dovetail rib d on its base, moulded in a dovetail undercut groove in the face of the ball bearing race member I. The innerlip of the U washer d alsotls longer than the outer lip, in order to equalise approximately the areas of surface contact of both lips, by thereby compensating for the diflerence in surface areas due to difference in diameters.

Fig. 3 shows a U washer h with radially outwardly directed lips assumed to wipe radial surfaces and mounted on the outer, race'member i of a cylindrical ball bearing, the inner member i of which projects beyond the member 2'. In-

' versely, a U washer i with inwardly directed lips can be mounted on the inner member 1: of a hearing as shown in Fig. 4, which in this example is a cylindrical roller bearing, the outer member lc of which does not project beyond the member M.

The U washer may be supplied detached from the ball or roller bearing and be mounted thereagainst or thereon when the two components are assembled between the two machine parts. Preferably however to ensure mutual suitability, and for convenience, the U washer is supplied already secured against (iron or in the ball or roller bearing, by cementing, bonding, mechanical interlock or otherwise, all as a complete unit.

I claim:

1. In a. shaft housing, a U packing washer having lips oppositely laterally pressed by fluid pressure against surfaces of said shaft and housing, a freely rotatable annulus against which the base of said U washer bears, and a second annulus supported against displacement in said shaft bearing housing and supporting said first annulus against displacement.

ing lips oppositely laterally pressed by fluid preasure against surfaces of said shaft and housing. a freely rotatable annulus against which the base of said U washer bears, a second annulus sup ported against displacement in said shaft bearing housing, and anti-friction means interposed between said annuli. 1

3. In a shaft housing, a U packing washer havi s lips oppositely laterally pressed by fluid pres, sure against surfaces of said shaft and housing, a freely rotatable annulus against which thebase of said U washer bears, a-second annulus suported against displacement in said shaft bearing housing, and anti-friction balls interposed between said annuli. ANTHONY PROCIER. 

